full immersion

[bryanb]

30+ trips, many on-site. I completely agree that busses aren't magical. Just not.

Since busses are here to stay...

I'm wondering if there are some ideas on what they can do to make the transportation system more magical. Maybe the busses could be themed, instead of being so generic. For example, the AK bus could be themed as a safari vehicle. The Studios bus could become a celebrity's limo. The resort themes could also be used for certain busses...

I'm sure that would create operational challenges, but maybe having just one or two themed busses for each route would be an interesting thing to add to the mix.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I don't think it's a sham, I think either can be great

I do think that if you don't want to or can't drive, the transportation that Disney offers is great. Just get on your flight and they take care of the rest. Some folks really like that, so for them, onsite is worth every penny.

I think when you have a car at your disposal, you start looking at the offsite lodging offerings and you start to realize that the onsite prices are a wee bit high for what you get. And maybe onsite is still the best pick. But my point is you probably won't even look at those other offerings if a car is not in the picture.

I do think there is a difference between the Disney resorts regarding the bubble feeling. We stayed at Bay Lake Tower for a week with a Magic Kingdom focused trip. Definitely felt like a magical bubble and it was an awesome trip. We've also stayed at Old Key West...lovely villa, but I didn't get a bubble feeling there because it's so far out you might as well be offsite.

Anyway, to each their own! I think Orlando is a great destination in general because there are so many different types of accommodations.

 

[bookgirl]

Obliviously we stayed at different WDW's because I totally got the "bubble".

I've stayed all three levels, I've been offsite and on, I've had a car for partial days and for full trips, and done a trip with no car at all. I've even done the west coast, and that was offsite, way offsite.

The only time I didn't get the bubble, was my off site stay, and honestly with an AP, I kind of got a 'semi' bubble, so still not too shabby. (I used the AP to park on site then used transportation within the resorts/parks.

However it's not cheap, not by a long shot and compared to other vacations, the amount I pay would get me more for my money other places, but there wouldn't be "the bubble". I get and appreciate the bubble.

Oh and US/IOA is tiny so dedicated transportation there is like comparing taking a trolley around Galveston Island and using public transit in Chicago/NYC. Whole different level of transportation.